Disposable orthopedic support

• US 4,327,714 A
• Filed: 01/22/1979
• Issued: 05/04/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Span-America Medical Systems Inc. (Savaria Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Donald C. Spann
• Inventors: Spann, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHEDD, CHARLES W
• Application Number:
  US06/005,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 128/80 R, 128/80 A, 128/80 B, 128/80 C, 128/134, 128/68, 128/149, 128/87 R, 128/153
• US Class Current: 602/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0193 Apparatus specially adapted for treating hip dislocation; Abduction splints

Abstract

An abduction pillow is illustrated wherein a wedge shaped body is constructed of synthetic foam material for positioning the legs of a patient in cushioned but fixed divergent position in which various parts of the abduction pillow are made to be disposable and wherein the wedge shaped body may be truncated to provide a space adjacent the patient'"'"'s pelvic area which facilitates the placement and removal of catheter and drainage tubing and other related items which need be inserted in the body of the patient during and after surgery.

Claims

1. An abduction pillow for immobilizing the lower limbs of orthopedic patients comprising:

a wedge shaped body defined by first and second ends, first and second sides extending between said first and second ends, said first end being widened relative to said second end whereby said first and second sides diverge away from said second end;

a removable elongated outer cover strip of synthetic foam material carried about said first side, said second end, and said second side generally assuming said divergent shape of said wedge shaped body;

connecting means carried at spaced positions on said outer cover strip and said wedge shaped body releasably attaching said outer cover strip to said wedge shaped body;

space strapping constructed of flat substantially rectangular strips of synthetic foam material extending about spaced portions of each limb fixing same against said outer cover strip at respective sides of said wedge shaped body, said wedge shaped body between said cover strip and said sides maintaining said limbs in divergent fixed positions corresponding to the divergent disposition of said sides;

fastening means carried at spaced positions on said wedge shaped body and on one side adjacent the ends of said strapping;

said fastened strapping cooperating with said wedge body so that said limbs may be secured at spaced locations therealong for immobilizing the limbs in spread position; and

said second end of said wedge shaped body includes a removable apex portion causing said wedge shaped body to be truncated when removed thereby shortening said wedge shaped body to create a void space between said wedge shaped body and the pelvic area of the patient facilitating the placement and removal of tubing and the like inserted in the body of the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer cover strip includes pressure dispersion aperatures formed at spaced locations which align with the knee area of said limbs when connected about said wedge shaped body, said aperatures serving to disperse and reduce pressure against said knee area when strapped thereagainst.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including attachment means carried on respective mating surfaces of said apex portion said said wedge shaped body facilitating use of said wedge shaped body both with and without said apex portion affixed thereto.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated outer cover strip includes affixing means carried adjacent a free end of said cover strip and said first end of said wedge shaped body for securing the un-needed length of said cover strip when wrapped about said wedge shaped body when in a shortened truncated configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said outer cover strip includes three pressure dispersion aperatures, a first and second of said aperatures being in alignment with said knee area when connected about said wedge shaped body when truncated, said first and a third of said aperatures being in alignment with said knee area with said strip connected about said wedge shaped body with said apex portion attached.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wedge shaped body is constructed of synthetic foam material.

7. An abduction pillow for immobilizing the lower limbs of an orthopedic patient comprising:

a wedge shaped body having a thickness and configuration defined by first and second ends and first and second sides diverging outwardly from said second end terminating at said first end;

an elongated outer cover strip of synthetic foam material adapted for being removably fastened to said wedge shaped body and wrapped about at least a portion of said first and second sides and said second end facilitating re-use of said wedge shaped body;

means extended about the legs of the patient and fastened to said wedge shaped body fixing said legs against said outer cover strip at respective sides of said wedge shaped body, said wedge shaped body between said outer cover strip and said sides maintaining said legs in divergent fixed positions corresponding generally to the divergent configuration of said sides; and

said wedge shaped body includes a plurality of wedge shaped bodies detachably attached to one another having divergent sides diverging in alignment with respective sides of one another to represent a single body when attached to one another yet provide a shortened truncated wedge shaped body with one of said bodies detached and removed to create a working space between said shortened truncated body and the pelvic area of the patient while maintaining a desired spread angle between the patient'"'"'s legs.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said elongated outer cover strip includes pressure dispersion means at spaced locations along the length thereof for relieving and dispersing pressure on the knee portion of the patient'"'"'s legs when fixed thereagainst.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 including affixing means carried adjacent a free end of said elongated cover strip and at said first end of said wedge shaped body securing an unneeded portion of said elongated cover strip to said first end when wrapped about said truncated wedge shaped body.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wedge shaped body is constructed of synthetic foam material.

11. The abduction pillow for immobilizing the lower limbs of an orthopedic patient comprising:

a wedge shaped body having a thickness and configuration defined by first and second ends and first and second sides diverging outwardly from said second end terminating at said first end;

strapping means extended about the legs of the patient and fastenable to said wedge shaped body fixing said legs against respective sides of said wedge shaped body, said wedge shaped body between said sides maintaining said legs in divergent fixed positions corresponding generally to the divergent configuration of said sides; and

said wedge shaped body including a plurality of wedge shaped bodies releasably attached to one another having divergent sides diverging in alignment with respective sides of one another to represent a single body when attached to one another yet provide a shortened truncated wedge shaped body with one of said bodies detached and removed to create a working space between said shortened truncated body and the pelvic area of the patient while maintaining a desired spread angle between the patient'"'"'s legs.